Histoire du vieux et du nouveau testament, enrichie de plus de quatre cens Figures En Taille-Douce, &c. BIBLE.

First edition, first issue, of this superbly illustrated work, with the final plate in the first issue "avant les clous" state. The 214 engravings were done by such prominent artists as Bernard Picart, Jan Luyken, and Gerard Hoet. The translation is generally agreed to be by David Martin (1639-1721), a Huguenot refugee living in Amsterdam, although the work is more commonly known as "Mortier's Bible", after the Dutch cartographer (1661-1711) who published it. The five double-page maps bound at the rear of Volume II include depictions of the Holy Land, the Mediterranean lands of the patriarchs and apostles, the route of the Exodus (complete with parted Red Sea), and the world itself. During the production process, the final plate was broken and hastily repaired: copies produced after the repair show the impression of the nails used to hold the plate together. These are known as "après les clous" ("after the nails"). Brunet III, pp. 199-200; Cohen & De Ricci, pp. 489-490; Querard V, p. 575 (ref). 2 vols, folio (419 x 276 mm), pp. [xiv], 282, [8]; [xxii], 154, 20. Engraved frontispieces, 214 plates, 5 engraved bifolia maps, 3 bifolia letterpress tables, engraved headpieces, initials, and vignettes to title pages. Contemporary red morocco, spines ruled and decorated in gilt and with twin green morocco labels, covers panelled and with turn-ins in gilt, marbled endpapers, edges gilt, green silk bookmarker. Light bumping and wear, infrequent minor foxing to contents: a very good copy.